THE Grand National reviews have ended and we will wait to see how the BHA react to the negative reviews that prevailed over the last two weeks.

Hopefully, some logic and reason will prevail and not too many drastic actions will be taken.

In a well meaning but perhaps short-sighted column on last weekend’s Sunday TimesDavid Walsh suggested: “Would it hurt the National to have 30 or even 25 runners?

Of the 2023 non-completions, “A staggering 11 were listed as unseating their rider … in quite a number of instances, the partnership sundered because the horse had too little room,” he argued

Yes, it would ultimately damage the race. You would be eliminating the allure of the National, that anyone can win it. Instead it would be 20 horses from the bigger yards and a few hopefuls. Corach Rambler may not have made the top 25 – he was number 26 in this year’s National. Pineau De Re and Auroras Encore would be on the limit of 30-runner race. You would end up with a mini bet365 Chase over a longer distance with just a stone between the contenders and mostly from the bigger owners and trainers.

It has to be considered there were extenuating circumstances two weeks ago that more than likely led to more casualities at the first fence with horses and riders more buzzed up due to the delay and then a rushed preparation before the off. Many of those involved admitted this.

ITV presenter Luke Harvey was in the middle of things: “In every other year, when the jockeys come down to the first fence, they almost compose themselves for a minute…There was a definite rush about everything…There was a different feel to this race because of what happened.” - Racing Post If you make changes to one race you will be forever eeking away and conceding to protesters. They don’t just want changes, they want no racing.

Why not look at One For Arthur’s race as an example of an acceptable National, one that can easily occur again?

Four fell and four unseated in total. Only two of those falls were at the first. There was one fall and unseat at first Becher’s and after that the field was well sorted out enough to ensure all should have had room.

Do caution the riders on how they ride and approach those first few fences but leave all else as it is.

IT might have been feared that Punchestown would be a slightly boring Willie-fest, but the meeting had plenty to satisfy all jumping fans this week. Yes, Willie won lots and five Grade 1s to yesterday. He had an A team in Energumene, El Fabiolo and Facile Vega, a B team in Klassical Dream and Gaelic Warrior but then Feronliy, Fastorslow and A Dream To Share shared the acclaim. Looking forward, to the next wave, Ballyburn looks to be front and centre. Those trying to predict where any Mullins runners will appear at Cheltenham should remember that at the end of season classifications last year the now top two-mile novice chaser El Fabiolo was only the joint seventh novice hurdler – on 150, well behind Constitution Hill (170), State Man (159), Vauban and Sir Gerard (155). Who knows where the next star will arise from.

CLASSIC trial are the means by which we sort the wheat from the chaff (unless you were in Frankel’s Greenham of course) and we have had a series of them last week at Newmarket and Newbury.

I don’t know the logic of the saying ‘the bigger the field, the bigger the certainty’ but, with 26 fillies still in the 1000 Guineas, it looks as big a puzzle as the National was.

On the Luck on Sunday show last week Ralph Beckett nominated three from his stable and if one trainer is running three, they can’t all be classic winners.

Throw in the fact that in the last five years we had Cachet 16/1, Mother Earth 10/1, Hermosa 14/1 and Billesdon Brook 66/1, then you’d say it was easier to pick the Grand National winner with a range of 14/1, 10/1, 4/1, 11/1 and 8/1 winners in the last six years.

Of the two-year-old filly stars, Commissioning is retired, Statuette misses the race, and Tahiyra is yet to be committed.

Top-rated

It leaves the Cheveley Park winner Lezoo as the joint top-rated, though with the second in that race Meditate shading her in the betting. Even Lezoo’s trainer voiced doubts on her stamina. There may be light stamina doubts over Meditate too. Zoustar and No Nay Never are not strong sources of stamina and throw in Nell Gwyn winner Mammas Girl being by sprinter Havana Grey and Mawj by Exceed and Excel, you’d have final furlong concerns of stamina running out.

The 2000 Guineas has the two Ballydoyle colts heading the betting, both making their seasonal reappearances. One may be a sprinter, the other a Derby horse. On recent runnings, the Godolphin duo look big odds.

WHEN the notification first came through that the Derby next Saturday was to be run at 1.30pm, I thought April Fool’s Day was a month late. But no, the famous racing classic is to be run at lunchtime due to the FA Cup Final. A Cup Final that for once will have a bigger viewership because of the two higher profile teams involved.

I can’t see how the almost mid-day Derby build-up suits anyone, punters or horsemen.

With calls for a return to a mid-week Derby, perhaps another solution would be to switch days with the Oaks. The Gold Cup takes a perfectly prominent position on Fridayh and more people are likely to be free from work on a Friday than a Wednesday.

THE flat season picks up steam from this week onwards and tomorrow’s Prix Ganay brings together some of the stars from last season, principally Vadeni and Bay Bridge.

It’s a pity Luxembourg misses this early clash but it needs a decisive winner.

The World Rankings in early April had the top European horse as Dubai Honour (122) in joint sixth on his Australian form, ahead of the Gosdens’ Dubai Group 3 winner Mostahdaf (121) in ninth place and the seven-year-old Lord North along with Westover on 120, all well behind the top horse - Equinox in 129. The Europeans need to get re-established.

Hill or high water?

IT might be Biden or Trump in the mix, Sinn Fein or any motley crew in charge here, but every racing punter and trainer will utter the same replies over the summer if pondering next season’s running plans. “It depends on what they do with Constitution Hill….”